Confessions of a Foodie

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Showing posts with label Sweet Potato Souffle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweet Potato Souffle. Show all posts

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Side Dishes

I have to admit, I love veggies.

There, I said it. And while I do tend to favor some of them more than others, I'm willing to give most veggies a try at least once. Who knows where one's next favorite will come from?

If you're like me, I think you'll find these a nice variety to get you started, including the Twice Baked Potatoes and Onion Supreme. Enjoy!

Note: The first five recipes in today's post can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

2 T oleo or butter

dash of pepper

1 T salt

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. lemon juice

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE

My mom’s recipe. Really good with baked ham.

4-5 sweet potatoes

1 small can pineapple

2 T orange juice concentrate

cinnamon

1/2 C brown sugar

1 egg

1 C nuts

1/2 tsp. salt

dash pepper

9 large marshmallows

Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

ONION SUPREME

My dad came for a week at Christmas, 1987. He fixed this to go with Christmas dinner, along with several other veggies. The day I drove him to Tampa International to fly back to New York, we went for coffee at a shop in the airport. When I asked for a copy of this, he grabbed a paper napkin and wrote down the recipe. It’s a great way to fix onions; I’ve always had onions in things, but never as a side dish. However, this is incredibly easy, as well as fantastic.

2 leeks (discard green), sliced thin

4 bunches scallions (discard green), sliced thin

2 cloves garlic, sliced thin

3-4 yellow onions, sliced thin

1 stick butter or margarine

20 small white onions

1 1/2 C half & half

Melt butter over low heat & sauté leeks, scallions, garlic & yellow onions for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook white onions in enough water to just barely cover. Add white onions (after 45 minutes) to skillet & pour in half & half. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes more & serve.

JASON'S HOME FRIES

This is one of my oldest son's inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home.

3-4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled

3-4 T butter or oil (or both)

1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper & garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown & crusty.

JEAN'S SPECIAL POTATOES

Jean and I used to spend many hours on the phone together. One afternoon, we spent the better part of 30 minutes talking about food. I told her about Dad’s Onion Supreme; she, in turn, gave me this recipe.

8-10 potatoes

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 C butter

2 tsp. chives

Peel & cook potatoes. Whip cream cheese & add potatoes. Mix sour cream, butter & chives. Add to potato mix. Cover & chill overnight (or several hours). Put in greased 2-quart casserole & cover; bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

TWICE BAKED POTATOES

This last recipe is from The Food Network and can be viewed online at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/twice-baked-potatoes-recipe-1942581.

Total Time: 1 hr 35 minutes; Active Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Ingredients

4 large russet potatoes, each about 3/4 pound each, scrubbed and dried

2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/3 cup sour cream

1 scallion, finely chopped

Freshly grated nutmeg, optional

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the potatoes directly on the rack in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Pierce each potato in a couple spots with a fork and continue to bake until tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove potatoes from the oven, and turn the heat down to 375 degrees F.

Hold the potato with an oven-mit or towel, trim off the top of the potatoes to make a canoe-like shape. Reserve the tops. Carefully scoop out most of the potato into a bowl. Take care to leave enough potato in the skin so the shells stay together. Mash the potato lightly with fork along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the butter and sour cream. Stir in the scallion, nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season the skins with salt and pepper. Refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding it slightly. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the potato filling. Brush the reserved top with the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper.

Set the potatoes and lids on a baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Dishing Up the Side Dishes

There are days when it's easier to pick when the main dish for dinner, but thinking up a side makes us a draw a blank. Burgers and fries are an easy combo. But then there's meatloaf and..., or chicken and...Well, you get the idea. (And yes, vegetarians do occasionally have that problem, too.)

Here are six side dishes to help you through the day, including Curried Potatoes and Sweet Potato Souffle. Enjoy!

STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES

This was from an old Weight Watchers email; 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4.

1 spray cooking spray

2 tsp sesame oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)

2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)

2 scallions, chopped (*)

1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)

Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.

Note:

Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.

SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE

This is my mom’s recipe. Really good with ham. There were never any left-overs.

This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

4 – 5 sweet potatoes

1 egg

1 small can pineapple

1 C nuts

2 T orange juice concentrate

1/2 tsp. salt

Cinnamon

dash pepper

1/2 C brown sugar

9 large marshmallows

Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

CURRIED LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

This is from the October 2007 issue of Runner’s World.

1 C dry lentils

1 small butternut squash

1 Tbls olive oil

1 Tbls curry powder

1 tsp grated gingerroot

1 tsp chili powder

Salt & pepper to taste

1/4 C shredded coconut (optional)

Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray & set aside. Pour lentils into deep pot & cover with cold water. Bring water to boil, reduce heat, & add raw chunks of the squash (leave skin on to add nutrients & texture to dish). Simmer until squash is soft (about 1 hour). Remove pot from heat, drain, & set aside. With tongs, pull out chunks of squash & mash roughly, skins & all, with a fork, ricer, or potato masher.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, mix drained cooked lentils & mashed squash with olive oil & all the spices (including salt & pepper). Spoon mixture into baking dish. At this point, you can cover the dish & refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready, bake until piping hot, about 20 minutes if you’re putting it into the oven right after mixing, or 25-30 minutes if it’s been refrigerated. Serve warm garnished with shredded coconut if you like and with a serving of wild greens, such as blanched chard. Serves two as a hearty main dish or four as a side dish.

Calories: 530; Protein: 32 g; carbs: 94 g; Fat: 8 g.

TUSCAN-STYLE QUINOA

This is from the November 2005 issue of Runner’s World.

1 1/2 C quinoa

3 C water

2 Tbls olive oil

3 coves garlic, minced

1/2 medium red onion, chopped

6 C shredded Swiss chard

1 large tomato, diced

1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

1/3 C Parmesan cheese

Place one tablespoon of the olive oil in saucepan, heat to medium-high, pour in quinoa to toast for four minutes. Cover with water, turn down to simmer, cook for 15 minutes until tender. Heat nonstick skillet with remaining olive oil & sauté garlic & onion until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chard & sauté until wilted. Add tomato & heat through. Fold in cooked quinoa, season with salt, pepper, & chili flakes to taste, & top with Parmesan cheese. Let stand 3-5 minutes to blend flavors.

CURRIED POTOATOES

This is from the June 2008 Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe begins, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”

1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil

2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks

3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)

3 Tbs. Madras curry powder

1 15-oz. can black beans

3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and finely chopped (1/4 cup)

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots and curry powder and cook 4 minutes.

Add beans and their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar an 1 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky amd carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan

Friday, January 25, 2013

Now, Eat Your Veggies!

I have to admit, I love veggies.

There, I said it. And while I do tend to favor some of them more than others, I'm willing to give most veggies a try at least once. Who knows where one's next favorite will come from?

If you're like me, I think you'll find these a nice variety to get you started. And not to worry: I'll post more in the future.

Baked Butter Carrots

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

2 T oleo or butter

dash of pepper

1 T salt

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. lemon juice

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Sweet Potato Soufflé

My mom’s recipe. Really good with baked ham.

4-5 sweet potatoes

1 small can pineapple

2 T orange juice concentrate

cinnamon

1/2 C brown sugar

1 egg

1 C nuts

1/2 tsp. salt

dash pepper

9 large marshmallows

Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Onion Supreme

My dad came for a week at Christmas, 1987. He fixed this to go with Christmas dinner, along with several other veggies. The day I drove him to Tampa International to fly back to New York, we went for coffee at a shop in the airport. When I asked for a copy of this, he grabbed a paper napkin and wrote down the recipe. It’s a great way to fix onions; I’ve always had onions in things, but never as a side dish. However, this is incredibly easy, as well as fantastic.

2 leeks (discard green), sliced thin

4 bunches scallions (discard green), sliced thin

2 cloves garlic, sliced thin

3-4 yellow onions, sliced thin

1 stick butter or margarine

20 small white onions

1 1/2 C half & half

Melt butter over low heat & sauté leeks, scallions, garlic & yellow onions for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook white onions in enough water to just barely cover. Add white onions (after 45 minutes) to skillet & pour in half & half. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes more & serve.

Jason’s Home Fries

This is another of J’s inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home.

3-4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled

3-4 T butter or oil (or both)

1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper & garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown & crusty.

Jean’s Special Potatoes

Jean and I used to spend many hours on the phone together. One afternoon, we spent the better part of 30 minutes talking about food. I told her about Dad’s Onion Supreme; she, in turn, gave me this recipe.

8-10 potatoes

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 C butter

2 tsp. chives

Peel & cook potatoes. Whip cream cheese & add potatoes. Mix sour cream, butter & chives. Add to potato mix. Cover & chill overnight (or several hours). Put in greased 2-quart casserole & cover; bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.